Alternatives to CherryTree
A hierarchical notebook with rich text and syntax highlighting, storing everything in one file or a folder you control. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
CherryTree
A hierarchical notebook with rich text and syntax highlighting, storing everything in one file or a folder you control.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as CherryTree.
TriliumNext Notes
A hierarchical note app where one note can live in several places at once, with a server you can host.
TriliumNext Notes keeps a hierarchical structure with code notes and per-note encryption, adds macOS and a self-hosted server with sync, but stores notes in a database.
Joplin
An open source note and to-do app that syncs end-to-end encrypted through storage you already have.
Joplin adds macOS and mobile apps with end-to-end encrypted sync through services like Nextcloud or Dropbox, using notebooks rather than deep node trees.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Obsidian uses plain Markdown files with links and backlinks on every major platform, which is more portable, but it is not open source.
SiYuan
A block-based notes workspace with Markdown that renders as you type, and an option to self-host it.
SiYuan offers block-based notes with maths and diagrams on desktop, mobile and self-hosted servers, though notes stay in its own store and official sync is paid.
QOwnNotes
A plain-text Markdown notepad and todo manager that syncs through Nextcloud or ownCloud, or any file sync you already use.
QOwnNotes keeps notes as plain Markdown files synced through Nextcloud, ownCloud or any file sync, but Linux is its primary platform and the interface is dense.
MindForger
Organize Markdown notes in a personal knowledge workspace.
MindForger organizes Markdown notes in a personal knowledge workspace on Windows, macOS and Linux, and expects familiarity with Markdown and structured notes.
Zim
A desktop wiki that keeps linked notes as plain text files in a folder structure.
Zim is a free desktop wiki for Windows and Linux storing linked notes as plain text files in folders, using its own wiki markup instead of rich text.
TiddlyWiki
A non-linear personal notebook that runs as a single self-contained HTML file in a browser.
TiddlyWiki keeps a whole notebook in one portable HTML file run in a browser, with non-linear tagged notes rather than a node tree.
Also worth comparing
These listings name CherryTree as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft's freeform digital notebook with sections, pages, web clipping and cloud sync.
CherryTree is a free GPL-3.0 hierarchical notebook for Windows and Linux storing everything locally in one file, with no built-in sync and no official macOS build.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
TreeSheets
Organize ideas in a grid of nested cells.
Zettlr
Write and organize Markdown documents for publication.
Freeplane
Mind mapping and knowledge management that goes far beyond drawing bubbles, with scripting, conditional styles and attributes.
Org mode
A GNU Emacs major mode for notes, outlines, to-do lists and documents kept in plain text.
VimWiki
A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax.
